Memorial Gunnar Sonsteby

Vestre Gravlund Oslo

Memorial
Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby 11 January 1918- 10 May 2012

Nickname(s) Kjakan (The Chin), No.24 among others

Gunnar Sonsteby became a member of the Norwegian Resistance Movement after watching German soldiers marching through Oslo in 1940. He became the most highly decorated Norwegian citizen, including the only person to be awarded the War Cross with 3 Swords, Norway's highest military decoration.
He escaped to England where he joined the Special Operations Executive and was trained in sabotage. On return to Norway he became leader of the Milorg Group and the Oslo gang and was responsible for many acts of sabotage and assassination.
He operated under 30 to 40 different names and identities and had 20 to 30 safehouses enabling to avoid detection by the Gestapo.
When the Germans withdrew from Norway on 8 May 1945, Gunnar Sonsteby led the cortege when Crown Prince Olav, the first member of the royal family to return from exile in London. He also served as bodyguard for the Crown Prince and family at the homecoming of the rest of the royal family, including King Haakon.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!